Why Bill Spadea Wants You to Join the Pothole Patrol

Here in New Jersey it’s frustrating to see just how many potholes are on our roadways. We’ve all hit them at one point or another. Sometimes it’s just a bump and you say a few choice words...and other times you do real damage to your car. We’re here to help you do something to solve this problem.

New Jersey 101.5 has partnered with Plymouth Rock Assurance to map the state's worst potholes. We're updating the map daily and sharing readers' reports with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, which maintains state highways and interstates.

Plymouth Rock Assurance is taking on this project because they want to keep you and your car safe during pothole season. Their pothole resource page is full of tips, but here are some of my favorite:

1) Keep your tires properly inflated. They're really your vehicle's first line of defense when potholes attack.

2) Slow down when you see potholes ahead. You want to avoid slamming on the brakes, as this increases downforce as well as your changes for sustaining damage from the pothole. Slow down in plenty of time to coast over or around the pothole to try to avoid a flat tire or other damage.

3) Remember water-filled potholes can be more treacherous than you expect. They often are deeper than they appear, so take extra steps to avoid them.

4) Check your suspension. As Plymouth Rock Assurance says, "if your car is shimmying and shaking, it may be time to get things checked out."

5) If your car is damaged, gather all the paperwork. "In New Jersey, you may be eligible to file a pothole claim with the Division of Risk Management if your car has sustained damage on a state road (this may help you recoup your insurance deductible)," according to Plymouth Rock Assurance. "Make sure you include repair estimates, receipts, copies of your police report, and photos of the damage if possible. You must also include your car insurance declaration page and the location of the accident. It’s important to note that counties and towns have different policies for pothole damage on their roads."

To get a free quote and find out more about Plymouth Rock Assurance's unique benefits like Get Home Safe, call 1-866-INSURANCE or visit this website.